Election 2012

Tomblin Congratulates School for Blue Ribbon Designation

October 12, 2012

Triadelphia Middle School earned a National Blue Ribbon Award - an honor given to just three schools in West Virginia.

That distinction got the attention of Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, who visited Triadelphia Middle School on Thursday morning to congratulate the principal and staff.

"I wanted to come and congratulate the principal, the staff and students on winning the award. That's quite an honor for any school to have, and you have to be commended here at Triadelphia Middle School for achieving that recognition," Tomblin said.

Article Photos

Photo by Sarah HarmonGov. Earl Ray Tomblin shakes hands with Ohio County Schools Superintendent Dianna Vargo during Tomblin’s visit to Triadelphia Middle School on Thursday to congratulate the school on earning a National Blue Ribbon Award.

The governor also stopped by the sixth-grade social studies class to talk about his duties as governor and to answer students' questions about government and politics.

"The students had a lot of interesting questions. They've been studying government, and I think having the governor come in and respond to their questions is helpful to them and maybe gets them thinking about serving in public office as they get a little bit older," Tomblin said. "Education is so important. I like to stop and see what our schools are doing whenever I can. I think that people need to think about civics and our government that controls so much of our lives. It's good to have our young people interested in it."

Amy Shuler Goodwin, director of communications for the governor, said Tomblin is "a history buff and loves the history of West Virginia's government," so speaking to the social studies class was "something he really wanted to do."

"The students are going over the branches of government and they also covered how a law becomes a law in the state of West Virginia, so the governor stopping by fit in perfectly with what they're doing now," Triadelphia Principal Walter Saunders said. "Through his course through the Senate and now being governor, he knows exactly how a law becomes a law, so it was neat for the kids. They asked very intelligent questions - some were about government, some were about what he does during the day."

Tomblin also took a tour of the school, visiting several classrooms and the science lab with Superintendent Dianna Vargo and other school officials.

"It was very nice for the students to be able to meet with the governor, and hopefully it will spark some conversation when they get home," Saunders said. "Anytime that they can bring what they have going on at school back home, it's a plus."